How To Shine At An Interview (Even When You're Super Nervous!)

You've had your resume professionally prepared and put in a handful of applications online. After some back and forth by email, and a short phone screen, you got the invitation. You've been asked to come in for a face-to-face interview!

Still, your palms are sweaty and suddenly, you have butterflies in your stomach. You haven't had an interview in years and you have no idea where to start.

Don't let your nervousness ruin your chances of getting the job.

Here are 7 effective ways to interview well and show the interviewers that you've got what it takes:

1. Self-reflect.

Sometimes the hardest questions can be the ones about yourself, like what are your interests, values, goals, preferred ways of working, and ideal work environment. Take the time to think these items through, not just to ace the interview but to ensure that this job is a good match for you.

And, at the same time, adopt a practical mindset. If you don't get this job, there will be other opportunities, perhaps one that is an even a better fit for you. You will be far more self-aware and ready for when that time comes.

2. Study the organization.

Find out as much as you can about the company. You can get a lot of clues about the culture from the corporate website, executive bios, and career pages.

Research the organization to see what's been in the news. Sites like Glassdoor can be helpful to give you a sense of the leadership and potential hotspots. Find out if anyone in your network works there or knows someone there; there is nothing like a first-hand account.

Once you've done your digging, consider what questions you'd like to ask the interviewers during the process. Recruiters and hiring managers are always impressed when candidates take the time to learn about the products and services offered, the values, and most significant business goals.

3. Anticipate questions and craft your responses.

Be sure to set aside a few hours for this next exercise: writing out the questions you think you'll be asked, along with your best possible answers. Take your cues from the job posting, particularly the qualification section, and you can’t go wrong.

Most interview questions are behaviorally based. That means that you'll need to think about situations in the past in which you demonstrated specific behaviors, such as problem solving or adaptability.

Be prepared to answer the questions in a fair amount of detail, including information such as the context, who was involved, what actions you took, what were you thinking and feeling at the time, what the outcome was, and what you learned from the experience.

And don't forget to write out your responses to, what I call, challenge questions. These are items that stress you out the most. When I work with clients on these questions, such as "Why did you leave your last job?", there is a real turning point for them.

I give them activities to re-frame their situation in an accurate but more positive light. When they nail this, their confidence soars.

5. Visualize the outcome.

It's no accident that Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Michael Phelps, and Muhammad Ali performed so well. They all used visualization before every event. Jack Nicklaus is widely known to have said: "I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp in-focus picture of it in my head."

The same visualization techniques used in sports psychology apply here as well. Never step into a room without having pictured the entire interview from your arrival to your departure.

Close your eyes and imagine walking up to the receptionist with conviction to announce yourself, calmly waiting in the reception to be called, firmly shaking the hiring manager's hand wearing a genuinely warm smile. Note how you feel.

Now, envision yourself seamlessly answering every question posed to you. Finally, imagine giving your closing statement about why the job appeals to you so much and what you look forward to bringing to it.

You're done. You've shaken hands again, and now you're heading home, enthusiastic about the opportunity and proud of how well you handled the interview.

6. Dress for success.

There's an adage "Dress for the job you want" and it is true. The interviewer has to be able to picture you in the job.

You can get a sense from the company website about the dress code, but it's always better to slightly overdress than show up underdressed. In general, stay away from anything distracting, such as low necklines, short hemlines, bright colors, or big jewelry.

Classic and comfortable works best for most organizations. But the bottom line is that you have to feel good wearing it. Ask a friend or your partner for color and outfit suggestions that flatter you.

7. Get centered.

Before you walk into the building, take a few minutes to get grounded. Sit in your car, on a bench, or in a coffee shop and feel your feet on the floor. Put your hand on your stomach and take a deep breath. Count to four and then exhale slowly. Take about 10 breaths and let your thoughts come and go freely.

Then, pump up your self-talk. You can do this! You're ready!

Finally, fake it, until you make it. That's not to say you need to be inauthentic; you merely need to hold your head high, smile, and act as if you are confident. Then, you will be.

Even if you're over-the-top nervous now, you can present yourself as a competent, self-assured professional. It takes some preparation on your part, but stick with it, and you'll shine at the interview as well as in your new job.